Covering the redd

The female covers her redd after spawning by making a series of rapid diggs while swimming forward. Whereas covering typically begins immediately after egg release with Pacific salmon species, a Dolly Varden female will initially undulate her body over her redd with an exaggerated swimming motion. Covering digs may be interspersed with further body undulations. She assesses her progress by probing: https://www.salmonography.com/Salmonid-Topic/Probing-behavior/

Pebbles fly
Pebbles fly through the water just behind a female Sockeye Salmon's (Oncorhynchus nerka) caudal fin as she covers her redd after spawning. Clouds of sperm are visible emanating from the redd and downstream where the alpha male guards.
25Mile Creek Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Copper River Delta Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological chordate courtship covering redd diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater living lotic migratory organism semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater
Sockeye Salmon female covering redd after spawning
Underwater view of Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) female covering her redd after spawning in a clear groundwater fed stream in the Copper River Delta near Cordova, Alaska during summer.
25Mile Creek Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Copper River Delta Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship covering redd diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism semelparity semelparous spawning spawning act spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Chinook Salmon female covering her redd
Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) female covering her redd right after spawning in Montana Creek near Talkeetna, Alaska.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chinook Salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei King Salmon Montana Creek Neopterygii Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Susitna River Tributary Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature near Talkeetna organism photographed under water semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
A jack tags along as a female Chinook Salmon covers her redd
A jack tags along as a female Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) covers her redd after spawning in Montana Creek near Talkeetna, Alaska.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chinook Salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei King Salmon Montana Creek Neopterygii Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Susitna River Tributary Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship covering redd diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ jack jack salmon living lotic migratory naturalworld nature near Talkeetna organism photographed under water precocial male precocious male semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream topside under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
A female pink salmon makes her first covering dig
A female pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) makes her first covering dig after spawning sending a few lose eggs downstream.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology CRD Chordata Class Actinopterygii Copper River Delta Ecology Humpback Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Pink Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship covering redd diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Sockeye Salmon female beginning to cover her redd
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) female beginning to cover her redd immediately after spawning
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship covering redd diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Female Sockeye Salmon covering her redd
Female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) covering her redd after spawning while male guards downstream
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship covering redd diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Defense posture
A Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) alpha male aggressively defends the redd by gaping at an intruder (in background) as the female covers it with stream gravel after spawning.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate aggression anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship covering redd diadromous diadromy displacement activity fresh water freshwater gaping in situ living lotic male aggression male behavior male salmon digging migratory naturalworld nature organism semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild
Stones fly
A female Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) spins as she completes a redd covering dig while her alpha male guards downstream.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship covering redd diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream summer under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild
Covering Redd
Female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) stating to make a dig that will contribute to covering her redd.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Probing
A female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) uses her anal fin to probe her redd between covering digs.
Alaska PacificSalmon Probing SalmonBehavior Actinopterygii Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship covering redd diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Covering the redd
Female Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) covering her redd after spawing in an intertidal stream.
Actinopterygii Alaska Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Cordova Eccles Creek Ecology Humpback Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Pink Salmon Prince William Sound Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship covering redd diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ intertidal spawning living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild
Coho Salmon covering her redd
Female Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) covering her redd with a quick series of digs.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Autumn Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship covering redd diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Waving over redd
A female Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) waves her body over her redd as part of the covering process as a male guards.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Autumn Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dolly Varden Dolly Varden Char Dolly Varden Charr Dolly Varden Charr southern form Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Salvelinus malma Salvelinus malma lordi Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld organism semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater wild wild salmon
Covering the redd
Female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) covering her redd.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism semelparity semelparous stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Covering the red
Female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) covering her redd.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship covering redd diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism semelparity semelparous spawning spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Covering the redd
Female Sockeye Salmon a.k.a. Red Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) covers her redd immediately after spawning as the male guards in an Alaska, USA stream during the summer. Sperm that has not drifted downstream clouds the water above the redd.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship covering redd diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic male behavior migratory milt naturalworld nature organism semelparity semelparous spawning spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
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Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Reproductive behavior Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate anadromous anadromy biological biosphere chordate courtship covering redd diadromous diadromy fresh water freshwater in situ living lotic migratory naturalworld nature organism semelparity semelparous spawning behavior stream under fresh water underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon